Blog writing

Are you listening? People are talking about you!

Companies have begun to dive into the emerging trend of social listening. Whether it be Facebook, Twitter, Instagram or YouTube, for many, we have come to a stage where we cannot go an hour without checking one or more of our social media accounts and posting information of relevance about ourselves. I Know myself can be counted as one of these culprits and organisations around the world are taking advantage of this. Social media has changed the way companies do business.

What is social listening you may ask?

According to Brandwatch it is the act of taking note and identifying what is being said about your company, product or brand across the internet.

By actively listening for mentions or negotiations, you can make sure that you don’t miss out on the chance to satisfy customers or gather valuable feedback. To accomplish this, Sprout Social state that you must ensure you are tracking all variations of your brands name, with and without the @ symbol.

Tools that companies are using,

Customers are being monitored by companies all across the internet in order to know and understand what they are saying about them. This is done through the use of a selection of tools. The Social Media Examiner has compiled a list of some of the best listening tools available, they range from, Social Mention to Talkwalker, Topsy and Hootsuit.

Through researching and reading about social listening there are both positive and negatives to monitoring people on social for commercial purposes. However, as a marketing student I believe that there are ample added benefits to the power of social listening.

Benefits of Social Listening –

Business2Community, mentions how it enables companies to spot trends, identify what consumers are saying about your brand, what consumers are doing online, understand what social media platforms your target audience hang out on, identify people to target future content towards, find sale opportunities and it also allows for re-marketing. Re-marketing enables companies to understand what their targeted customers are doing, apprehend their behaviour and therefore TARGET them with relevant material.

Many people believe that the advert that has popped up on their side bar relating to the product that they were just searching is coincidental, but it’s not. Social media listening enables companies to see the certain things that people were searching for and therefore target them with specific and relatable marketable advertising in order to grab their attention and gain greater sales. Clever I know! It’s not regarded as stalking, it’s just smart marketing.

But is it ethical?

Some customers believe that if they post content online, it is expected that social sites won’t use them, when in fact for the vast majority of the time, the minute you press post it’s public. Users feel that they have an implied right of privacy but privacy on the internet is almost a thing of the past.

Jennifer Golbeck, speaks about how Target sent a flyer to a young girl’s home with advertisements about baby bottles and nappy’s 2 weeks before she had even told her parents she was pregnant. They were able to find out that information through the material she had provided online but was this too far? This displays the capabilities that companies can gain through the use of social listening at the moment but they also need to know at what point to stop and allow the user to retain control.

Eli Pariser also mentions in his TedTalk, how the internet is using our behaviour to target us with things. He states “It’s providing us with information with what it thinks we want to see not what we need to see”.

These talks enhance our knowledge on the power of social media listening but are many companies sticking to the online code of ethics?

According to EphMRA “researchers are bound by the terms and conditions attached to access of the online services”. Therefore, many online social media services include intellectual property rights. However consent for listening must also be included and if not, it’s free for all, companies can read and summarise the content. Many companies are taking advantage of it and using it to their marketing advantage.

In my opinion social media listening is essential for companies, so that they can keep up-to-date and track what’s being said about them online. It can also help them to do better than their competitors.

Ever questioned what Google Analytics is really about and it how may benefit you as a marketer?

Whether it’s boosting sales, increasing traffic or knowing where your customers have come from, Google Analytics has all the tools, statistics and information that can provide users with all of these countless added benefits. What is Google Analytics some many ask? The below video answer The What, They Why and The How…

And why does one need it?……Since researching Google Analytics and bustling through interesting articles and blogs, I’ve been awakened to the mind-blowing abilities on how it can provide fresh insights on user behaviour and how it can help one better understand their marketing efforts. As consumer trends and behaviours are changing on a daily basis, it’s important for companies to keep track of this, so why not it with the help of Google Analytics. It’s for free! There certainly is lots to learn about what you can REALLY get from Google Analytics.

Allows for Re-Marketing –

Google informs people that re-marketing can tell us things about people’s behaviour on our sites, where they have comes from and where they will go to next so that you can create targeted ads. For example if you are a fireplace company and you know someone has visited your site, re-marketing enables you to serve and target them with advertising that they are looking for, even after they have left your site. Smartbugmedia states that the majority of customers will have to encounter an advert more than once before they purchase so this is why it is very beneficial and it also adds to your brand exposure.

Google Analytics enables you to see how long it took your visitors to get to your sites. Both Forbes and I believe, this is excellent information to be knowledgeable about. We’ve all been on the receiving line where you’ve been waiting a lifetime for a webpage to load. Receiving high speed loading time onto a website can be the icing to some customer’s experience. Google Analytics enables companies to see which sections of their websites are dragging down the lead time and which areas need to be fixed. Enhancing the speed that it takes to get someone onto your webpage, increases customer satisfaction and heightens your chance of being within the top search results.

Geographical Tracking –

I’ll admit, geographical tracking is not as strong in Ireland in comparison to other countries but LunaMetrics explains how it still provides you with that all important research and feedback on the locations people are coming from. For example, it can tell you that 80% of your traffic is coming from Ireland and 20% from the U.S. It’s the trend that most companies will look for not the exact detail.

But why would you want to know that?? Advertising targeting tactics, that’s why! Knowing this information is extremely useful for targeting your ads. Shopify’s blog mentions that it is also a great way for local businesses to learn if their marketing creations are driving traffic from the wanted regions or learn about countries that they are not yet catering for.

Understand which mobile devices people are using to reach your page –

Hubspot mentions how the mobile world continues to grow so this is why it is now more than ever, crucial for a company’s website to be mobile friendly. In my opinion this should be the first communication platforms that is created. Google Analytics can tell you the exact devices that people are using and it can even go to such detail as the amount of time spent on an iPad verses androids or iPhone. Knowing the exact devices people are using, as mention by Hallam Blog, enables you to create effective content to suit the most used devices and ensure that the most popular devices used are user friendly for your website.

As mentioned by Social Media Examiner Google Analytics can identify the key words that people use, in order to gain access to your site. This is one of the first steps that any marketer should achieve because, remember… it’s not about what you’re trying to sell, it’s what the consumer will be searching!! Google Analytic reports can show for example, that 10 people landed on my website after googling the term ‘’cheap insurance’’. This identifies that companies should invest in these key words, to help with things such as pay per click advertising and gain a higher position in search results seen as Hubspot noted that, 75% of users don’t go past the first page of search results and generate traffic to their website.

Install a Google Analytics tracking code to your website, with the help of Google Support so you too can track all elements of your website!

If you’re reading this, then I bet you’re thinking of taking your very own path down blogging lane? Do it! It’s brilliant and I’ve put together some of my top tips to get you right on your way!

Blogging has been around for a while, but has only just recently taken off in popularity. My aim is to help you join this new trend. Merriam-Webster says that blogging is an online site, “on which someone writes about personal opinions, activities, and experiences”. Blogging is booming! To mention but a few, Suzanne Jackson, Charlie Lyne and Lilly Higgins are bloggers that I myself follow and take inspiration from on how to make blogging brilliant.

These five tips can provide you with the platform to be able to tap away on your computer and create your own original and interesting blog on; topical conversations, things that are of interest to you, food, fashion or films, or interesting content that your audience (otherwise known as followers) are looking for.

1. Engage with your followers and get them involved

This tip for me, is one of the most important! People love to be included within the topic of conversation whether it be through answering questions, competitions or expressing their opinion in a comment. According to Mashable, it’s a great way for bloggers to gain instant likes and increase engagement with the brand. So ask questions, get them to discuss their feelings and experiences or ask them to complete a survey before they read the blog to get them thinking first.

Allie Lewis states that by engaging with your audience, ”They will realize that they are important to you and you value them, making them more likely to remain happy with your company”.

2. Planning is KEY

Planning in all aspects of life is essential, but it’s especially useful for blogging. Know what you want to write about and plan it first! Yes, original thoughts and spur of the moment writing are key but always plan the topic of conversation beforehand. You don’t want your blog taking up every minute and hour of your day and it will, if you’re not organised! Alexandra Sky reminds her readers to ”plan accordingly. Just like a magazine”.

3. Be yourself, be legit!

TechCruch state that you should be yourself, and trust me, people will listen if you do. Don’t try to be too techy, people are smart, they’ll know if it’s not the real you. Show your followers your point of view through your personality, passion and enthusiasm and if they appreciate it, excellent! By doing this it allows you to become relatable. Post what you and your followers want to read, not what you think will please others. So show people the real interesting you!

4. WELCOME negative comments

If people are reacting to your posts, positively or on occasion negatively, then congrats, be proud, you’ve created a successful blog post! For first time bloggers, a single negative comment can knock you back a step, but according to Image, it’s important to ”know how to handle them” and keep on writing. The vast majority of your followers will react positively but remember, not every reader is going to completely agree with what you have to say. Alternative points of view challenge our thinking and promote further debate on a blog post which should be welcomed. However, if you are receiving constant negative comments from a single person (known as a troll) don’t worry they can be blocked! Keep going for those who enjoy your work.

Source: https://www.positivityratio.com/book.php

5. Create usable content

Remember, Social Media Today and Usability Geek mention that, a lot of your followers will, use, listen or share your content, if it is ”directly relevant to their interests”or they are able to learn something from it. For example, if you have a blog about fashion, then your followers may come to you for the latest fashion fixes or trends. Provide them with what they are looking for. Let them know where they can purchase certain products, or inform them of this seasons fashion disasters. You will thrive, if your content solves certain needs or gives followers knowledge about a subject.

Trust me, if you utilize these tips, you will not only create large amounts of traffic towards your blog but it will enable you to develop relationships with your followers. Give it a go!